Cleveland Browns Fans Can Get a Beer in 16 Seconds – Identity News Digest

Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:

CBP Seeks to Upgrade Controversial Biometric Immigration App

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is planning to enhance the biometric features of its CBP One app, which is designed to facilitate the entry process for individuals coming to the United States. The upcoming update aims to expedite the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to gather biometric data from nonimmigrants leaving the country by requiring a geolocated “selfie” to verify departure. The app’s enhancement aligns with a broader mandate to automate the collection of Form I-94, which tracks the arrival and departure of nonimmigrant visitors. Despite the intended benefits, the expansion of biometric and geolocation tracking has raised significant privacy and surveillance concerns among immigrant rights groups.

Tanzania Health Insurance Fund Leverages Biometrics to Fight Fraud

The head of Tanzania’s National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) says his organization is implementing “biometric measures such as fingerprints and facial recognition” to combat fraud. The effort is being undertaken alongside a more general ICT upgrade that will “facilitate electronic registration and payment number issuance for members,” NHIF Director General Bernad Konga said. The announcement arrived in a press briefing detailing the successes of a dedicated fraud investigation unit established in the NHIF five years ago, which has so far resulted in savings of Sh34 billion, or roughly $13.3 million.

Votes Put Tunisia on Path to Biometric ID Cards

Tunisia’s Assembly of the People’s Representatives has passed two significant pieces of legislation concerning the implementation of biometric identity cards and passports, signaling a move towards integrating advanced biometric technologies into national identification systems. The new laws involve amendments and supplements to the existing Law No. 27 from March 22, 1993, related to the National Identity Card. Notably, the assembly decided against proposals to modify Article 6, which pertains to the establishment of a biometric database.

Navajo School District to Implement AI-Enhanced Security

In Arizona, the Piñon Unified School District on a Navajo reservation is advancing its security measures by introducing an AI-powered surveillance system equipped with facial recognition technology, provided by Iveda. The system, designed to enhance safety on three school campuses, will integrate with existing camera infrastructure to detect unauthorized individuals, smoke, fire, and manage campus traffic by analyzing faces and license plates. The implementation aims to bolster the security layer, ensuring a safer educational environment for students. The Piñon district first started trialling the technology last year.

Researchers Flag Security Vulnerabilities in Women’s Health Tracking Products

New research by academics from Royal Holloway, University of London, Newcastle University, University of London, and ETH Zurich has exposed security, privacy, and safety vulnerabilities within the femtech sector, including concerns about wearable fitness trackers and health monitoring devices. These technologies, aimed at women’s health such as period and fertility tracking, have been found to excessively gather not only biometric data but also personal and sensitive information, raising alarms about the potential for this data to be accessed by unauthorized parties or even sold to third parties. The study criticizes the current regulatory frameworks in the EU, UK, and Switzerland for their inadequacy in addressing these risks, underscoring a pressing need for regulatory updates to ensure the protection of sensitive health and biometric information in femtech applications.

Worldcoin Sues Spanish Regulator Over Ban

Worldcoin has filed a lawsuit against the Spanish data protection authority (AEPD) following the regulator’s decision to ban its operations in Spain due to concerns over privacy and data protection. Worldcoin’s project, which involves scanning individuals’ irises to create a global identity system and offering free cryptocurrency in return, has faced scrutiny over its data collection and usage practices. The AEPD’s concerns included inadequate disclosure, the collection of minors’ data, and restrictions on withdrawing consent. In response, Worldcoin accuses the AEPD of bypassing EU law and making misleading claims about its technology.

Cleveland Browns Celebrate Success of Wicket’s Biometric Concession Tech

In its inaugural year, the Cleveland Browns’ Express Beer program, a collaborative effort involving the Browns, Wicket, Lava, Tapin2, and Aramark, showcased impressive outcomes by integrating facial recognition technology to streamline beer purchases at games. The system allows registered fans to quickly buy beer using their facial biometrics as identification, and significantly reducing transaction times to an average of 16 seconds, which marked the fastest concession speed in the stadium. The companies say it has delivered a 171 percent ROI and over 4,000 signups, highlighting the potential of facial recognition to enhance customer experiences in sports venues while raising questions about privacy and data security in public spaces.

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March 8, 2024 – by Alex Perala and the FindBiometrics Editorial Team